The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-15

road, his horses feet making but very little
noise, when he was suddenly startled by
hearing voices only few PAGES away. One
of the speakers he recognized as the man
he had punished that day. Walter slipped
noiselessly from the saddle. tied his horse
to a small tree, and crept TO the top of the
creek bank, beneath which the persons en-
gagged in the conversation were standing.
"Yes," said the voice which he recog-
nized as Adolphus Malloys, "that's all up
now. The girl has refused me point blank;
and now all we can do is TO make the most
We can out of 1t. His house is in the sub.
urbs, and they keep considerable jewelrv
about it, as well as money. Besides we'll
drag the old hound out, make him 60 with
us To the bank, and, as he knows the COM
bination of the lock, open the vault for
u.s."
won't there be danger?"
eyes, some; but no more than we've
risked before. We. who've cracked so
many cribs in New York City, needn't have
any fears of this one. Besides, boys, it's
bound to make big haul for us. What do
you say?"
"Oh, Wen 90 anywhere We lead," said
another.
We'll be four to one. There's only the
old man and two women, with possibly a
woman servant and man servant in the
house. But they'll be surprised, and what
can they do2 Come on"
Walter crept swiftly and noiselessly back
to his horse, led him about two hundred
PAGES, and then, turning his head back to-
ward the city, leaped into the saddle and
galloped away. The further he went the
faster his horse ran. Ii was several miles,
but the noble animal bore him onward like
wind.
Ii lacked several minutes of midnight
when he reached the house of the banker
in the suburbs, and boldly opening the
gate led his horse into the lawn, and turned
him into the summer house, as it offered
the best place of conceelment.
Hurrying up the doorstep he rang the
night bell. A moment later sleepy darby
came.
81 must see Mr.. Norton at once" said
Walter.
Mr. Norton came down half dressed into
the hall, where he listened in amazement
to what Walter had to reveal.
"Have you no weapons?" the countryman
asked
No, not a thing, except that heavy cane
i'll the corner"
THAT will do. Now, if 1 had a dark
lantern, said Walter.
"Stop-I have one; will get it,.
The banker soon brought the lantern, and
Walter then Selling the cane told Mr.. Nor
| ton and the colored man to secure clubs
and be ready at the head of the stairway
when he should call.
They did SO, and then a deathlike still
ness fell over the scene. An hour had
passed, when Walter could hear footsteps
creeping forward toward the door. Skele-
ton keys were inserted, the bolt clicked,
shot back, and four dark forms, each wear
ing black mask, glided into the hall, soft
| ly closing the door after them.
Wait up stairs, this way" some one
whispered.
Surrender" roared Walter. and with a
click the dark lantern flashed a flood of
light upon them.
Whack! came a blow from the cane, and
one of the four burglars fell.
"Douse the glim-cut for the door"
shouted another.
There was sharp report, and Walter
! felt n singing pain on his cheek, but he
struck out again, and down went the man
who had shot him. Another sharp crack
and pain in his shoulder told he had a
second hit. The lantern fell from his
grasp but he continued TO do battle, though
all was darkness about him. and he felt as
If ten thousand worlds were crashing in
ruin about his failing senses. He heard
shouts on the stairway, aud knew the
banker and negro were coming to his aid,
but the excessive pain and loss of blood
overcame the modern Hercules, and he
tainted
When he recovered he was lying on q
bed, two surgeons were dressing his
wounds, and some one was softly weeping
at the head of his bed. He looked, and it
was The bankers daughter.
Never was hero so fully repaid for his
suffering. Ola was his nurse, though his
mother came to share her vigils, and be.
fore Walter recovered he had declared his
love and been accepted by Ola.
People began at once to speak of Walter
as decidedly lucky boy, but of course the
bankers girl would not throw herself away
on him. When rumor OF the betrothal was
first made known no one believed it.
When it became n fact. everybody sup
posed that Walter would go into the bank
and learn The business, but he did nothing
of the kind.
Mr.. Adolphus Mallov and his two asso-
ciates captured with him, who proved TO be
a band of New York burglars, were all sent
for long term TO the States prison. Wal
ter and Ola were married as soon as he
recovered from his wounds, and the banker
settled his son-i law upon large stock
farm in the country, not far from the city,
where he became the model farmer Of that
locality. And his wife, that excellent lady
and housekeeper, Is the bankers daughter.